CHCO-TV NewsBreak26 with Vicki Hogarth and Nathalie Sturgeon: November 26, 2024

A community survey from St. Stephen showed about 78 per cent of the more than 200 respondents felt scared or threatened in their community.

Vicki Hogarth – Local Journalism Initiative

It is a result of ongoing crime issues in the area—some of which have been linked to vacant properties owned by an alleged absentee landlord from Alberta.

"A lot of residents have spent quite a lot of money on putting, like, security cameras, additional lighting, and getting dogs," said David Wittingham, co-creator of the survey. "When you read some of the comments that came back with the surveys—the written comments—you know, they have baseball bats at their back doors now, which they never did before."

Seventy-nine per cent felt their quality of life had suffered. Another 88 per cent knew seniors who felt unsafe or threatened. Eighty per cent had encountered discarded drug paraphernalia.

The survey was delivered to each councillor, the mayor, and the chief administrative officer—but was never presented or included in council documents as requested.

"I think a lot of residents that have had issues in these neighbourhoods—a lot of them are in areas where Starshine Properties had buildings and still own buildings," said Whittingham. "Some are closed up, some are still open with squatters in them."

At least two properties have been the subject of the Safer Communities and Neighbourhood Act.

Steven Morgan lives across from one of them.

"There was a lot of coming and going," said Morgan, who is a co-creator of the survey. "There was a lot of illegal activity that was going on. The police were there every single day, and there was a huge waste of resources for emergency services."

All of that was confirmed in an affidavit submitted by a peace officer during an investigation of 16 Schoodic and obtained by CHCO-TV, which showed evidence of drug-making and illegal activity.

That property was seized and boarded up by the Department of Justice and Public Safety.

"It's had a huge impact on the community," said Morgan. "When you have a negligent landowner—most times not even collecting rents—it seems suspicious. Who would buy that number of properties sight unseen and run a business model like that? It just doesn't make sense. The RCMP do the best they can."

In the month of May, the RCMP reported 21 calls to 16 Schoodic.

Fifty-seven per cent of respondents said they had called the RCMP—with the vast majority making more than one call, and 19 per cent saying they called more than 10 times.

In general, the creators of the survey say they hope it will create change among those sitting in the council chamber.

"Saint Stephen's a beautiful town. It's a town worth fighting for," said Morgan. "But if the town council isn’t proactive and bogs itself down in procedures, how are we going to get to the end of this?"

Mayor Allan MacEachern says he was surprised by the survey.

He says council is working diligently to ensure residents in the municipal district feel safe.

"These things take time to roll out, depending on what it is," said Morgan. "A lot of it has to do with housing. We're getting there. There’s a lot of action on these things."

The council recently boarded up a run-down property on Milltown Blvd owned by Starshine Properties.

MacEachern also says some delinquent properties at the centre of the issues in St. Stephen are up for mortgage sale and hopes they’ll be fixed up soon, creating new housing.

In the end, MacEachern adds the new Liberal government is moving quickly on things that may help ease the pressures on the town.

Potential hate crime under investigation in St. Stephen

RCMP have arrested a 40-year-old man from St. Stephen after a disturbance on Rose Street. The incident occurred on November 16, when the man allegedly yelled threats outside a home. The man has since been released on strict conditions, including having no contact with the victims. He is under investigation for hate-motivated behaviour.

RCMP urge victims to report similar incidents. CHCO will continue to follow this story.

SJDA students put on fundraiser with Lennie Gallant

Acclaimed East Coast musician Lennie Gallant is bringing his Christmas Tour to St. Andrews this holiday season at Sir James Dunn Academy on Thursday, November 28th, beginning at 7pm. The show will feature original Christmas songs and holiday stories, all the while supporting a great cause, with some of the proceeds going to SJDA Student Leadership program. 

Visit LennieGallant.com for more information or to buy tickets. You can also buy tickets at the door.